Dental plate.



C. DE FELICE.

DENTAL PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.27. I9I5.

1,298,673. Patented Apr 1,1919.

wlrlvgsses; l/Vl/E/VTOI? f M CARLO DE FELICE W ORIVEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARLO DE-FELICE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

- '{Be itknown that I, CARLo citizen of the United States, and a resident DEN'IAL PLATE.

] Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed December 27, 1915. Serial No. 68,654.

To all whom it may concern DE-FELIOE, a

of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have 1nvented new and useful Improvements in "Dental Plates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to dental plates, and has for its object to provide a dental plate which is light in weight, sanitary, and simple, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to produce a dental plate as above which will hold securely to the mouth of the user by means of suction resulting from the construction of the same. Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those versed in matters of this kind.

Dental plates as a rule are made of rubber composition, and in some instances of metal. It will be understood that this invention I will be produced in any suitable material as ter understand my should be had to the accompanying drawfound best adapted to the purpose. To betinventlon reference .2 are the teeth, and-3 is a bridge or spider adapted to be carried by member 1, and is so shaped as to fit the roof of the mouth of the wearer.

In the usual practice a dental plate or that j art which carries the teeth, consists when ished of a single member. I am aware I that in some instances thisintegral piece has openings cut in it for the purpose of making same lighter and also to facilitate cleaning the same, but the plates are never-theless produced in one piece. In carrying out my invention, I may employ all metal or all rubber composition or other suitable plastic material, and during the course of manufacture, I produce a suitable U shaped member 1, and a bridge or spider 3. The U shaped member 1 which is adapted to fit the mouth carries the artificial teeth 2, and secured to this member 1 is the spider 3.

If the tooth carrying portion and the spider is made entirely of metal the two members will be so joined together by soldering, riveting, or in some other suitable manner as to represent a dental plate substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 3 the spider it will be seen, is provided with depressions acting as vacuum cups for the purpose of causing the member 1 to adhere by suction to the mouth of the wearer.

It will be understood that this spider may be of any suitable shape, may be constructed of metal or other material for composition. It will also be understood that member 1 may be constructed of metal or other suitable material, and for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the various ways in which my invention may be put into practice, I refer to Fig. 4 which is a cross section of Fig. 2 on the line AB, in which 1 is the tooth holding member, 2 is a tooth secured thereto in any suitable manner. 7

5 is the point at which 5 of Fig. 3 is joined, and 6 and 6' represent vacuum cups similar to those carried by member 3, but disposed along the upper edge of member 1 substantially as indicated in Fig. 5, which is also a cross section of Fig. 2 on the line A-B, 1 is the tooth carrying member with its suction cups 6 and 6, 2 is the artificial tooth, and 7 represents a suitable plastic composition such as rubber molded around 1 and incasing the upper part of 2. 7 is a similar composition inside the U shaped member 1, so that in this construction most of the member 1 is incased in a composition which may be so colored as to represent the natural gums of the person wearing the dental plate, and at the same time permit member 1 to extend along the up er edge, thus exposing the vacuum cups an not interfering with their function.

Fig. 5 illustrates another modification in which member 1 is entirely made of com osition the vacuum depressions being mo ded right in to the material itself, the said member carrying the artificial tooth 2.

In this construction, if spider .3 is of metal it would be inserted as at 8 into member 1,

I am aware that dental plates having'a spider portion provided with openings so as to leave a portion'or portions of theroof of the mouth exposed, have beenmade; but this feature alone is not suflicient to eliiciently retain the device in position.

in assuring together with the form of spider described, a most firm grip securing the artificial denture in its proper position and this results in great comfort for the'wearer being able to retain'the device and to use the same with greater ease.

Thus it will be seen that I produce a den-- tal plate which is sanitary and light and which also has the advantage of exerting I have found that the suction cups provided alon the edges of the plate proper, such as indicated at 6 and 6 in the drawings, are most efiective gre'atsuction'owing to the arrangement of the vacuum chambers provided for.

It will be understood that I do not wish to limit-myself to--the exact details as herein disclosed, it being within the scope of the inventionto vary the same in order to best meet the demands in a particular case, or to otherwise-modify the same as eXisting -practice in the dental art may dictate.

Having fully described my invention,- I claim- A dent'a l plate comprising a teeth holding portion adapted to be'mounted around the gums, suction means around the edges of sa1d teeth hOlCl111g.-;pOIi 10I1, and a bridge portion comprismg a suction cupand arms connecting sa1d SLlCtlOIl cup to sa1d teeth" holding: portion.

CARLQ) DE'FELICE.

Witnesses I F; CHANDLER, HELEN MILLER;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by-addressing the 'Goinmis'sioner of'Patnts",

Washington, 1X0. 

